หนู
mouse
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 mouse、rat
- 2 I [used by a child or younger woman to a familiar older person]
- 3 you [addressing a child or familiar younger person]、little one
This word primarily refers to a mouse or rat. It is also used in personal relationships: a child or younger woman may use it for “I,” while an older person may use it affectionately for “you” when addressing someone younger.
mouse、rat
A general everyday word for small rodents, covering both mice and rats unless the context or a compound makes the species clearer.
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มีหนูอยู่ในครัว mii nǔu yùu nay khrua There is a mouse in the kitchen. มีหนูอยู่ในครัว details
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หนูสองตัว nǔu sɔ̌ɔŋ tua two mice หนูสองตัว details
I [used by a child or younger woman to a familiar older person]
A first-person pronoun used mainly by children and younger women when speaking to parents, teachers, older relatives, or other familiar seniors. It can sound affectionate, youthful, or deferential.
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หนูไม่เข้าใจค่ะ nǔu mây khâwcay khà I don't understand. หนูไม่เข้าใจค่ะ details
you [addressing a child or familiar younger person]、little one
An affectionate second-person term used by an adult or older person for a child or a familiar younger person. Depending on the relationship, it may sound warm and caring or patronizing.
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หนูชื่ออะไรจ๊ะ nǔu chʉ̂ʉ aray cá What's your name, little one? หนูชื่ออะไรจ๊ะ details
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หนูอยากกินอะไร nǔu yàak kin aray What would you like to eat? หนูอยากกินอะไร details
Learning notes
Explanation
As an animal term, หนู is a broad everyday word covering both mice and rats. Its classifier is ตัว, as in หนูหนึ่งตัว, “one mouse/rat.” As a personal pronoun, its meaning depends on who is speaking to whom. When a child uses หนู with an older person, it means “I.” When an older person uses it to a child, it means “you” or “little one.” Adult women may also call themselves หนู when speaking with parents, older relatives, or other close seniors. These personal uses express more than politeness: they can signal youth, affection, cuteness, familiarity, or a junior position in the relationship.
Usage
For the animal meaning, it is used when talking about household pests, pets, farm rodents, or laboratory animals. As a pronoun, it is common in parent-child conversations, between students and teachers, and between younger people and familiar seniors. Adults also use it naturally when gently questioning, praising, or comforting a child.
Caution
As a first-person pronoun, หนู is not a general substitute for “I.” It is usually unsuitable as an adult man's ordinary pronoun and may sound childish or overly personal in formal business interactions between adults. Using it for an unfamiliar adult can sound patronizing because it casts that person as younger or lower in status. In particular, using it to summon a server or address an unfamiliar young woman may be perceived as disrespectful and is best avoided.
Differences from similar words
2 I [used by a child or younger woman to a familiar older person] synonyms
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ฉัน is a general informal first-person pronoun commonly used by women among peers. หนู presents the speaker as younger and is especially natural with a familiar older person.
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ผม is the standard polite first-person pronoun for adult men. หนู is mainly associated with children and younger women and is not an ordinary adult male pronoun.
3 you [addressing a child or familiar younger person] synonyms
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ลูก literally means “child” and is commonly used by parents or affectionately by adults addressing children. หนู has a similar warmth but can be used more broadly by an older person to someone younger.
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เธอ is a familiar “you” that can be used with friends, partners, or peers. หนู more clearly frames the person addressed as younger or junior.